In a gas station running errands for someone that I don’t want to be doing things for.  I’m holding a jug of juice and a packet of tobacco when I hear the clerk say that some idiot just bought a case of that low-quality tobacco.  I know that it must have been the same person I am shopping for and if they can take care of their own needs, why am I spending my time and money doing it for them?

As a young girl, standing on my hands, flipping with ease.  My talent for gymnastics does not mean I want to do it.  I just don’t want to disappoint anyone.  I walk in the dark along my childhood street to a regional competition.  When I get there my coach tells my parents that I’m gifted, but I’m not invested.  Have they ever asked me if I want to compete? They tell me that they never want me to do something that I don’t want to do.  I tell them that I can do it just fine and so I do, but I don’t really want to.

In a courtroom before a trial.  I tell my opponent to name as many playing cards as she can without a pause between them.  She names 22 cards.  I’m holding 19 of the cards she named, 3 of them are incorrect.  I log the results in an open spreadsheet.  I’m getting better.  “What do you think the chances were of me guessing all of those correctly?” I ask her.  She tells me, “I think I wouldn’t want to meet you in a court of law.”  I smile at her discomfort as the judge walks in.